The Sunday Wedding

The day was as perfect as it gets for an October day in the Michigan countryside. Sunshine, warm breeze and the beautiful reds, yellows and oranges of the changing trees were pleasing to the senses. The guests arrived, a mingle of family, friends and the congregation. The bride happens to be the pastor's daughter. The decorations simple and perfect. Lit candles flickered on the shelves at each window in the sanctuary and white twinkle lights wrapped with lace lined the aisle. Each wrote their own vows. He promised to be imperfect. She promised to love him still. As Jesus humbly washed the feet of his disciples, the bride and groom did the same, symbolizing their humbling spirits to serve one another as husband and wife. The ceremony wrapped up with Pastor allowing the groom to kiss his daughter, the bride. By the time we walked outside for the reception, the sun was down and the moon was but a sliver. The sweet country air enhanced the energy of the night. Mason jars with candles illuminated the walkway to the canopies. The white twinkle lights that gave just enough light under the canopies were romantic but still paled in comparison to the stars that filled the night sky. At each table was a mason jar of grape juice and a loaf of fresh, homemade bread to be served for Communion. So much love, joy and laughter filled the air at the tiny church that is in the middle of almost nowhere, on the edge of a farmer's field. What an extraordinary evening, a perfect Sunday wedding.

The Country Has No Fast Lanes

I had to chuckle to myself this morning as I was out driving. I was in no hurry. I could have taken the highway and been home in half the time that it took me to get home by way of the back roads. I love the back roads. Driving them is like watching God in motion (even though I'm the one who's actually moving). It was early enough that the road warriors were still hurrying to get to their day jobs. It was also early enough that the farmers were out on the roads either on their tractors or pulling their large farming equipment, heading to their fields for harvesting, not in quite a hurry as the road warriors. Driving in the opposite direction as them, I can see the frustration welling up on one road warrior's face as he was unable to pass the massive John Deere. While living in the country, driving in the fast lane of life is not an option certain times of the year. As the sun reflects off the droplets of morning dew that have settled on the browning corn stalks, slow down and take time to witness God's reflection in your life. Enjoy your time with God in the slow lane. He's in no hurry. Why should you be?

Death Of A Marriage

It is times like this when the internet and e-communications is not user "friendly", when an intimate conversation is far more appropriate and necessary. That's all I'll say on that matter.
When I opened the email and read it today, I couldn't believe what I was reading. The words jumping off the screen were surreal, shocking to say the least. "We have split" keeps ringing in my brain. What? My stomach twists as I feel like somebody I love dearly had just died. How can it be that a marriage that appeared to be built on solid rock for over two decades has been washed away with the shifting sand?
I am incredibly grieved by this revelation. I am saddened by the butterfly effect this will have on their children's relationships, their future grandchildren and so forth. This heartbreak is a reminder of how vulnerable our spirits are. It forces us to put our own relationships into perspective and assess where we stand with one another and work on the issues that may seem like a mere grain of sand right now.
In the meantime, I will pray for healing and restoration for this family. I love them that much.

She's Going Home Soon

Originally created on Saturday, January 16, 2010

She's going home to the Lord soon and I'm happy for her. She has a painful road ahead. That breaks my heart. She lived a good life, saw the world. She always shares her faith, never shares her regrets. She is a survivor...up until now. This one is a death sentence and there's nothing that can be done except pray for an easy departure from this world. It's hard to stand by and watch. And wait. Every moment is cherished now. Nothing is taken for granted. Her mood is somber. She keeps her fears to herself. The doctors give her 3-4 months. I give her less than that. The "I love you's" flow much easier and more frequently now. The good-bye hugs, more meaningful. We don't know if it will be the last time to share these sentiments. Like a well, the heart-to-hearts run deeper than ever. She's taking the time to enjoy the little things in life now like good conversation. She reflects on the good times of the past more frequently. Her time is near. She's ready. She will be missed, until we meet again. Finally, she will be free and renewed. She's going home to the Lord soon and I'm happy for her.

Winter Morning

Originally created on Monday, January 18, 2010

It’s foggy. It’s cold. The sun is not shining. What a beautiful morning! I drive the same route almost every day of the week, a winding, hilly country road specked with farms, old homes and woods.

The different seasons always bring a treat from nature. Springtime brings the sweet aroma of the olive bushes that grow wild on the side of the road. Summertime brings the welcome sound of the frogs in the roadside ponds and a dense population of fireflies. Autumn brings the crisp palette of changing leaves. Winter brings snowy hillsides and an easy view of deer grazing in the fields.

This morning was especially beautiful. Frost settled on the tree branches overnight, giving way to a serene beauty. Crows were perched in the branches, allowing quite a contrast for the eye to behold. It was almost as if I was driving through a black and white photograph. It’s amazing how something so simple could be so beautiful. These are the moments that make winter more bearable.

A Day In The (Country) Life

This post is was originally created on March 25, 2010
No matter where I drive, I tend to take notice of the environment as it passes me by. Yesterday’s travels through the countryside were no exception. As I drive through the country, I think about how it pertains to my life; mostly about what I really want…to be a true country girl. How I yearn for my own homestead, a piece of property to do what I desire like plant a big garden, have an orchard, maybe even raise a few chickens. As I was leaving the dairy farm yesterday, I noticed the cows in the pasture. I got excited thinking about the fact that newborn calves will soon be on their way. It’s always a joy to meet the newest members of the herd. As I drove further down the road, I saw maple trees being tapped, with metal buckets hanging around the tree trunks to collect the sap. This is always the promise of sweet maple syrup being made. Just beyond the trees, the sugar shack is billowing out black smoke from the smokestack, another tell-tale sign of that sweet goodness. As I passed up the farmer’s fields, bare and colorless, I couldn’t help but think about how in a few short weeks, they will be bursting forth with new, bright green shoots of corn, wheat and soy. It was in this moment that I realized the atonement between country living and wholesome food. So many of our basic needs are met right here in the country, from meats to produce, grains and so much more. The man-made bee hives are always easy to spot against the dark woods. Soon enough they will be buzzing with honey bees, working so hard for their queen. As I get back into town, I pick up my son from school. From there, we continue making our milk deliveries to the others in the milk group. As we’re leaving one home, I see the farmer running from her barn towards our car. She asks if we would like to see the lamb that was born just five minutes prior to our arrival. Of course! I never want to miss out on a learning opportunity for our kids. We get as close to the pasture as we can without scaring the new mama sheep. Not only do we see the newly born lamb (with fleece as white as snow), sleeping in the tall, brown grass is a brown lamb that was born a couple of hours earlier. The white lamb tries to stand so it can nurse. It was short lived as it did the splits and fell to the ground. Still it’s amazing how animals have the inborn ability to seek for what they need. To top off the day, my son got to pet a five year old chicken named Goldie. Country living is my way of life. Having lived here for only ten years now, I’ve embraced it and have learned to take advantage of all that it has to offer….even from my tiny house in my little town.

Deep in My Heart

Let me start by saying that this post has nothing to do with country life or the simple life. It is about a subject that is etched deep in my heart. Orphans. Not orphans who's parents have passed away. Orphans who have been removed from their parents for one reason or another, usually by way of abuse or neglect.

I speak of the children who are in our nation's foster care system. These children range from day old infants up to 18 years old. More than 300,000 are in our foster care system. Over 100,000 of them are available for adoption. These numbers are staggering. So many children, so few willing families. Not enough families are willing to adopt a child from the system let alone become foster parents. It is a huge responsibility, yes. But if we don't care for these kids, who will?

These children are our future. Regardless of how bad their life has been, they will still turn 18 some day and age out of the system with or without a strong family foundation to lean on. The Bible tells us to take care of the widows and the orphans. We are to bring the orphans into our family and make them our children as we have been made children of our Heavenly Father.

With all of this being said, I have to share something. Without going into too much detail, first, we are in the process of adopting a family member who's in the foster care system. We absolutely would not have it any other way. Kin is kin. We care for our own.

Second, this has opened our door and our hearts to become foster parents to help other children in the system. There is a huge need for foster and adoptive parents. Not everybody has the desire or the means of taking care of kin.

As we get closer to becoming licensed, I find myself getting excited at the prospect of having more children in our home. I'm not happy about how or why they will be living with us. It saddens me to think about what a child must be going through when taken from the only family they know. The family that let them down time and time again.

On the positive side, the maternal thing is taking charge. The best way I can explain it is it's almost like when a woman is pregnant, anticipating the birth of her child. The waiting, the wondering, the planning. The age range we will foster will be 0-5 year old boys. I am doing everything in my power to not go shopping in the infant/toddler section at the stores. It would be wise to be prepared with a few items for the various age ranges. However, it's not necessary to go crazy and buy all sorts of brand new items. Still being a farmgirl at heart, being thrifty is the way to go.

I did buy new bedding for the spare bed in case we get an older child. Remembering when our family member came to live with us last year, he was SO excited to have a bed and a bedroom of his own. It's amazing and sad how the necessities of life become luxuries and are so much more appreciated when a child has been forced to live without them.

Our appointment to fill out paperwork with the social worker is 3 long weeks away. It won't be until September at the earliest when we're approved for our license. Then we just wait for the call. The call from a social worker letting us know that they need a home to place children, our home. That wait will be over. Then the new wait starts. In the meantime, my plan is to nurture and love on the kids that the Lord sends our way. If we're patient and faithful, He might even let us adopt one or more.

For resources/information on foster care adoption, please visit these websites: www.davethomasfoundation.com , www.adoptuskids.org